DCS & Safety PLC Project Engineer - Major European Refinery Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Long-term Contract | Hybrid | Day Rate Negotiable THE OPPORTUNITY Alexander Daniels Global is retained by a major European refinery operator to identify a DCS and Safety PLC Project Engineer for a long-term contractor engagement in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. This is one of the most significant refinery automation programmes currently active in Europe, a €400M DCS modernisation roadmap spanning two refinery sites. Current contractors on the programme have been engaged for 6 years. This is a genuine long-term opportunity for the right engineer. The scope is approximately 50% DCS project engineering and 50% safety PLC migration. Both workstreams are active and require full project lifecycle delivery, design, configuration, FAT, SAT, commissioning and handover. THE ROLE Key responsibilities: * DCS project engineering on Foxboro - full lifecycle from design and configuration through to commissioning and handover * HIMA ProSafe safety PLC migration - safety logic design, configuration, SIL verification, FAT/SAT delivery * ABB 800XA project engineering on the secondary DCS estate * Lifecycle management, obsolescence planning and technical documentation * Regular site presence at Gelsenkirchen - hybrid working arrangement * Collaboration with the 28-person core engineering team and wider contractor pool PLATFORM REQUIREMENTS Primary - essential: * Foxborough DCS - project engineering depth * HIMA ProSafe safety PLCs - project engineering, not maintenance only Secondary - highly desirable: * ABB 800XA * IEC 61511 functional safety lifecycle experience * SIL assessment and LOPA Considered where project engineering scope is transferable: * Honeywell Experion PKS * Siemens Safety (F-CPU / TIA Safety) * Pilz or other certified safety PLC platforms THE CANDIDATE You will be an experienced DCS and safety PLC project engineer with a background in refinery, petrochemical or oil and gas environments. You will have delivered both DCS and safety system scope through the full project lifecycle not purely maintenance or operational support. Essential: * Foxboro DCS project engineering experience - design through commissioning * Safety PLC project engineering - HIMA strongly preferred, Siemens Safety or Pilz considered * Oil and gas, refinery or petrochemical industry background * Self-employed or limited company contractor structure * Right to work in Germany - EU nationals preferred, non-EU considered with confirmed work permit * Ability and willingness to attend Gelsenkirchen site regularly Desirable: * HIMA ProSafe programming and configuration depth * German language - not essential but advantageous for site work * Experience on turnaround or brownfield refinery programmes * Long-term contract orientation THE ENGAGEMENT * Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany - hybrid with regular site presence * Contract type: Self-employed / limited company preferred * Duration: Long-term - initial term with strong extension expectation * Day rate: Negotiable depending on platform depth and task scope * Start: As soon as available - programme is active * Right to work: EU nationals preferred - non-EU considered with confirmed German work permit Applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. The client name will not be disclosed at this stage. Alexander Daniels Global specialises exclusively in industrial automation recruitment across UK, DACH and USA markets.